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Vattakottai, a granite fort six kilometres north-east of Kanyakumari
cape, forms the terminal of a line of ramparts known as the South
Tranvancore lines built by Marthanda Varma to serve as defence for
Nanjil Nadu. It is rectangular in shape and covers an area of about
three and a half acres. The fort is enclosed by walls 25 to 26 feet
high, including the parapet, 29 feet thick at the front, 18 feet at the
corners and 6 feet at the rear. The portion running into the area is the
most strongly built under the orders of De Lannoy during the reign of
Mathandavarma (1729-58). About 1810 A.D. the British forces under the
command of St. Leger marched into Nanjilnad through the Aramboly pass
and demolished the defence lines. The small river by the side of the
fort, and the green vegetation all around add to the scenery of the fort
and has now become a holiday resort and picnic centre.
It is said that there is a subway or tunnel about fo ur
feet width, supposed to connect the padmanabhapuram palace. Now the
tunnel has been closed. On the northern side of the fort is found a slop
to being the canon from the lower to the upper part of the parapet of
the fort. There is well of about 6� diameter. The whole wall around the
fort is repaired and fresh mortar is being applied. From the evidence
left by the fort itself, it may be presumed that this fort was the
military base to protect the Kumari port which was a rich pearl harbour.
Since the emblem of the Pandya Kings was �Fish� and we find this emblem
in some of the places of the fort, it can be safely concluded that the
Pandya Kings had control over this fort for sometime.
Next to Vattakottai, we can see the traces of a light house in Leepuram
being called so after Colonel Lee who has destroyed most of the
Kadukkarai Kanyakumari Fort in 1806. This is a picnic spot, the sea is
calm and suitable for bathing.
Special Attractions :
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The fort surrounded by sea is so
pleasant to watch .
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Get the different experience of
watching a sea from the top of a fort.
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The seashore with lot of coconut
trees is a wonderful place to sit and relax.
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The sea is so calm so that you can
take bath even if you don't know swimming. [ But don't don't go so
deep :-) ]
Landmark :
80Km south of Trivandrum
15 Km East of Thuckalay
50 Km from Kanyakumari
Other Nearest Places of Interest :
|
Nearest Place |
Distance
from Chothavilai |
|
Kanyakumari |
6 KM |
How
to Reach :
|
Nearest Airport |
Nearest Railway station |
|
Trivandrum (State: Kerala) |
Kanyakumari (State : Tamilnadu) |
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